CANANDAIGUA — After multiple City Council workshop sessions, the public will have a chance to comment on the proposed 2014 city of Canandaigua budget Thursday night.

The proposed budget will feature a slight general fund decrease, from around $13.6 million in 2013 to just under $13.2 million. Despite this spending decrease, the tax levy will increase if the 2014 document is passed without any additional changes. The current levy — the amount to be paid via taxes — is $4.47 million, and the 2014 proposal is $4.54 million.

According to Councilman Jim Terwilliger, the biggest budget decision focused on funding for the city’s fire department.

The $319,717 proposed increase will allow the fire department to retain nine career firefighters, rather than shrinking back down to six — a level the department was at in 2010 after laying off nine people. The three fire spots were previously funded by a Staffing for Adequate Fire and Emergency Response (SAFER) grant that expired this summer.

More importantly, the increase will allow the fire department to staff both firehouses — one located on South Main Street, the other off Route 332 in the town — 24 hours a day, seven days a week, Canandaigua Fire Chief Mark Marentette said.

City Council debated for an hour Tuesday night, before narrowly deciding to provide an additional $28,000 — which is included in the aforementioned $319,717 — to have 24/7 coverage 100 percent of the time, as opposed to around 95 percent of the time.

Police Chief Jon Welch also asked City Council for more funding, and the draft budget reflects that request. An additional $115,000 is proposed for the police department to retain its downtown officer and to add a full-time parking officer. According to the city’s 2013 budget, the police department received slightly over $2.24 million this year.

The draft also includes a tax rate increase from $6.73 per $1,000 of assessed value to $6.83 per $1,000 of assessed value. There will be a city-wide property tax revaluation in 2014. The revaluations are required by the state every three years, said Assistant City Manager Bryan White.

Increases are proposed in the sewer fund as well. If passed, the sewer fund would increase 8.5 percent in 2014 from $3.40 per 1,000 gallons to $3.69.

The budget public hearing will be at 7 p.m. Thursday, Nov. 21 at Canandaigua City Hall, 2 N. Main St.

If you go …

WHAT Canandaigua City Council meeting and 2014 budget hearing WHEN 7 p.m. Thursday, Nov. 21 WHERE Canandaigua City Hall, 2 N. Main St., Canandaigua Can’t make it? Follow reporter Scott Pukos on Twitter at @MPN_SPukos